Watch movement with ringing mechanism



y 2, 1967 JEAN-CLAUDE SCHNEIDER 3,316,710

WATCH MOVEMENT WITH RINGING MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1965 m wv v mm \m 9w MN ww mm mm mm 3 RN 14 772 07 JLTJ C/aI/JQ fchei er 5 ,5 yM

J/ avwqu y 2, 1967 JEAN'CLAUDE SCHNEIDER 3,316,710

WATCH MOVEMENT WITH RINGING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed July 14, 1965 l 7z us ra or JamC/Jzde finch/v M y 2, 1967 JEAN-CLAUDE SCHNEIDER 3,316,710

WATCH MOVEMENT WITH RINGING MECHANISM Filed July 14, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 15 United States Patent 3,316,710 WATCH MOVEMENT WITH RINGING MECHANISM Jean-Claude Schneider, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, assignor to Fabrique dI-Iorlogerie Chs. Tissot et Fils S.A., Le Locle, Switzerland, :1 company limited by shares of Switzerland Filed .luiy 14, 1965, Ser. No. 471,822 Claims priority, appiication Switzerland, Aug. 7, 1964, 10,348/ 64 7 Claims. (Cl. 58-57.5)

The present invention relates to a watch movement with ringing mechanism, comprising a barrel housing, a motor spring driving the movement, an alarm spring adapted to be wound by rotation of a winding wheel and actuating, when released, the ringing mechanism, and an adjustable alarm releasing device.

The heretofore known watch movements of this type usually comprise a motor spring and an alarm spring independent of each other and adapted to be wound separately each by means of a particular winding member. This arrangement forces the user to wind regularly both springs. Gther known alarm watch movements comprise only a motor spring which simultaneously actua-tes the movement and the ringing mechanism. When the power-reserve of the movement is of short duration, for example of 36 hours, a suflicient power is given to the spring to actuate the movement and to produce a small number of alarms. In the case of movements with large power-reserve, for example of eight days, it is necessary to give to the motor spring sufiicient power to operate the movement for such period and to ensure for a snfiicient number of alarms, for example 16, as it may well be that the user asks for two alarms a day regularly. If in such a case however the user makes use of eight alarms only, for example, the spring is permanently under an important load, while if the required numbers of alarms is superior to the possible maximum the watchmay stop inadvertently.

It is a prime object of the present invention to realize a watch movement avoiding the above drawbacks, which require the winding of one spring only, and which moreover may actuate as many alarms as desired as long as the movement runs.

To this end the watch movement according to the present invention is characterized in that the said wind ing wheel engages one of the wheels of the movement so as to be entrained by the latter in the sense of winding, whereby the energy stored in the alarm spring is supplied by the motor spring.

Other features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the description now to follow, of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, and in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a part of an axial section through the watch movement according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the device for releasing the ringing in an operating position,

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the same device but in another operating position,

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of still the same releasing device in a third operational position, and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of an alarm watch provided with a movement according to the invention.

The movement illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a small plate 1, a bridge 2 extending parallely to said plate and situated underneath of it, and a dial 3 extending above of the plate 1 at a determined distance thereof, some of the wheels of the movement being arranged between the plate and the dial. The power necessary for driving the movement and the ringing mechanism is accumulated in a motor barrel 4 comprising a motor spring 5. The inner end of spring 5 is hooked to a barrel-arbor 6 pivoted in a bearing 7 on bridge 2 on the one hand, and in the center portion of the drum of barrel 4 on the other hand. The barrel-arbor 6 carries a ratchet wheel 8 forming the cover of the barrel and meshing with a Breguet or saw toothing 9 at the inner face of bridge 2. The drum of barrel 4 is provided with trunnion 4a pivoted in a bearing 10 of the plate 1. This drum has an outer toothing 11 meshing with a first wheel (not represented) of a gear train comprising an escape wheel cooperating with a regulating device with a balance. These lastmentioned elements of the movement are arranged in conventional manner and are not shown in the drawing.

A driving wheel 12 is secured to the end of trunnion 4a and extends into the space between the plate 1 and the dial. This driving wheel actuates the indicating means of the alarm as well as the ringing mechanism in the following manner:

The wheel 12 meshes with a transmission wheel 13, which in turn is frictionally coupled to a disc 14 having a peripheral toothing of same diameter as the toot-hing of the wheel 13. This disc 14 in turn meshes with an hour wheel (not shown) of conventional construction arranged in the center of the movement and carrying the hour-hand 15 (FIG. 5). This hour wheel entrains on the other hand by means of a conventional minutewheel, a cannon-pinion carrying the minute-hand 16 coaxially to the hour-hand 15. The frictional coupling between the wheels 13 and 14 aflords for the hand-setting of the hands 15 and 16. The dial 3 is provided with a chapter ring 17 visible from the exterior. The barrel 4 regulated by the wheels and the regulating device rotates at a speed of one revolution in 12 hours. The wheels 13 and 14 having a diameter that is double the one of wheel 12 thus effect one revolution in 24 hours. The wheels 13 and 1-4 have the same diameter as the wheel 12. On the other hand, the wheels 13 and 14 rotate in counter-clockwise direction while wheel 12 rotates in clockwise direction. A winding button secured to the end of barrelarbor 6 serves to wind the spring 5. It appears from FIGURES 1 and 5 that the dial 3 has an opening 18 of circular shape situated in the zone of 6 oclock and through which the upper face of disc 14 is visible. This upper face carries a crown 19 marked from 0 to 24 hours. A stationary index 20 affords for spotting the position of disc 14 and to indicate the time in the double hour circle.

The wheels 13 and 14 pivot on a shaft 21 guided in a bearing 22 of bridge 2 and in an opening 23 of plate 1. This shaft extends to the rear side of the movement where it is accessible. It carries a cap 24 resiliently engaged on its upper end owing to a slot 25. This cap, which rotates with shaft 21 is engaged in a sleeve 26, which in turn is engaged in coaxial openings of the wheels 13 and 14. The cap 24, the sleeve 26 and the wheels 13 and 14 are frictionally adjusted on each other and may rotate independently from each other.

As appears on FIG. 1 the sleeve 26 carries at its upper end an indicating member 27 which extends above of disc 14, and the cap 24 carries an indicating member 28, which extends above of the indicating member 27. Both said indicating members normally rotate with the disc 14 entrained by the movement but may be adjusted at will with respect to said dial disc and placed either in coincidence or with an angular spacing between 0 and a maximum value. In this case the indicating member 27 is in advance of the member 28 in the direction of rotation of disc 14. The ringing of the alarm is released when the member 27 is opposite index 20. It stops automatically after a determined period and is again released when the indicating member 28 comes opposite to index 20.

The releasing mechanism which ensures these functions comprises a cam 29 mounted for rotation with the cap 24 and the shaft 21. To this end the cap 24, at its lower end, comprises a pair of noses 30 diametrically opposite to each other and engaged in corresponding spaces provided on the lower face of cam 29. Moreover, the adjustment between the cam 29 and the cap 24 is a firm one. The mechanism further comprises a releasing wheel 31 engaged on the lower end of the sleeve 26. The latter presents an uneven portion 32 to which corresponds a straight portion of the contour of the center opening of wheel 31 so that the driving connection of sleeve 26 and of wheel 31 is ensured. Between wheel 31 and wheel 13 there is arranged a resilient disc 33 having at its periphery upstanding tongues 34 engaged in a Breguet toothing 35 provided at the lower face of wheel 13. Disc 33 rests on wheel 31 and has an opening engaged by a catch 36 projecting from wheel 31. Disc 33 connected for rotation with wheel 31 forms an unidirectional coupling between this wheel and the transmission wheel 13 and, as is the latter, is constantly engaged with the wheel 12 entrained by the barrel. Releasing wheel 31 may be displaced with respect to wheel 13 only in forward direction, i.e. in counter clockwise direction as seen in FIG- URE 5. The wheel 31 further has at its lower face a pair of stops 37 and 37a arranged on both sides of cam 29 so that when shaft 21 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction the cam 29 abuts the stop 37 and entrains wheel 31 and the disc 33 the tongues of which slide on the Breguet toothing 35. The relative position of cam 29 and of wheel 31, which in this manner is determined by the first stop 37, corresponds to that in which both indicating members 27 and 28 are placed one above the other. By rotating the shaft 21 in clockwise direction it is possible to entrain the cam 29 alone and to shift the hand 28 with respect to the hand 27 until the cam 29 abuts the stop 370: which corresponds to a shifting of about 3 hours (see FIGURE 2). It is to be noted that disc 33 ensures the frictional coupling between the wheel 14 and the wheel 13, since wheel 14 is axially retained by a collar of sleeve 26 while the cam 29 is axially retained by the catches 30. The resilient disc 33 rests on wheel 31 and presses the latter against cam 29 while pressing the wheel 13 against wheel 14 as the cap 24 axially retains sleeve 26.

The described mechanism cooperates with a ringing mechanism which is partially illustrated on FIGURE 1. A shaft 38 pivoted between the bridge 2 and the plate 1 and extending into the space between the plate 1 and dial 3 carries and drives in rotation a control disc 39 on the hub 39a of which is mounted a collet 40 to which is attached the inner end of the alarm spring 41. The outer end of this alarm spring is attached to a pillar 56 projecting from plate 1 in direction to bridge 2. The disc 39 may slide on shaft 38. It presents in the inner face of its hub a Breguet toothing 42 engaged by a corresponding toothing of an alarm wheel 43 mounted for free rotation on the lower end of shaft 38. A spring plate 44 maintains the Breguet toothings 42 engaged with each other in such manner that when shaft 38 is rotated by spring 41 after winding and releasing of the alarm, the wheel 43 is entrained by the Breguet toothing 42 and rotates an escape wheel 45 actuating by means of a pallet (not represented) a ringing hammer.

To the upper end of shaft 38 there is fixed between the plate 1 and the dial 3 a winding wheel 46 provided at its periphery with a toothing 47 and carrying on its lower face a stop 48. As appears from FIGURE 1 the toothing 47 of wheel extends at the level of the releasing wheel 31 and the stop 48 extends at the level of cam 29. The manner in which these elements cooperate is represented on FIGURES 2, 3 and 4. While the toothing 47 extends on the whole periphery of wheel 46 the toothing of the releasing wheel 31 extends only about 320 and comprises a last tooth 49 which is reinforced. Nevertheless the wheel 46 and 31 present the same number of teeth. Furthermore cam 29 is limited by a radial face 50 abutting against stop 37 when the indicating members are brought to coincide and by a peripheral edge 51 of slightly spiral form for fascilitating the displacement of the cam under the action of stop 48.

The position of the members 31, 29 and 46 as it is represented on FIGURE 2 corresponds to the moment in which the ringing will be released. Both indicating members 27 and 28 coincide and the whole of the assembling 29, 31, 13, 14 rotates as a unit entrained by the movement. The indicating members are shortly before the position opposite to index 20 and the spring 41 is completely wound. As soon as tooth 49 is released from toothing 47 the wheel 46 is released and, entrained by spring 41 in counter-clockwise direction, effects a complete revolution until the spring 41 is unwound. The wheel 45 during this time effects several revolutions and produces the ringing.

If subsequent to the ringing nothing is changed in the positioning of shaft 21 the unit of the ringing block continues to be entrained owing to the meshing of wheel 13- with wheel 12 and to rotate in counter-clockwise direction. After about 4 hours the first tooth 52 of the releasing wheel 31 comes to engage toothing 47 and entrains wheel 46 (FIG. 2). The alarm spring is thus automatically wound in clockwise direction from the energy communicated by the barrel 4 and this winding will last until the wheels 29 and 31 are again in the position shown in FIGURE 2, i.e. 24 hours later where a further ringing will be released.

To modify the releasing time of the alarm all what has to be done is to rotate shaft 21 in counter-clockwise direction about the desired angle. If the toothing of wheel 31 is then out of engagement with wheel 46 the moment at which this engagement will take place is advanced and if the effected rotation brings wheel 31 into engagement with wheel 36 the adjustment will already start the winding of the alarm spring. In all cases the rotation of the releasing wheel 31 brings the winding wheel in such a position that the alarm spring is completely wound at the moment in which the releasing position represented in FIG. 2 is reached.

As has been indicated above it is also possible to rotate shaft 21 in clockwise direction about a maximum angle corresponding to a duration of 3 hours. Only cam Y 29 is entrained, the wheel 31 remaining coupled to wheel 13 in turn meshing with wheel 12. Cam 29 then takes with respect to wheel 31 a shifted position such as that represented in FIGURE 4. The spiral-shaped edge 51 will then extend into the path of stop 48 secured to the winding wheel 46. From the releasingposition shown in FIGURE 2 on, this stop may effect only half a revolution before abutting against the edge 51 of cam 29-. It results therefrom that the ringing will stop after a half revolution of the ringing wheel but the cam 29 frictionally entrained by wheel 31 continues to rotate and after a time period in relation to the shifting between the cam 29 and the wheel 31, will release stop 48 so that the alarm wheel loaded by spring 41 is started again for the time necessary to effect the second half of its revolution.

It would of course also be possible, as a modification, to provide a cam 29 the edge 51 of which would present several steps and a wheel 46 provided with several stops so that each ringing could be divided into several periods. It would also be possible to provide several cams adjustable with respect to each other and affording for the releasing of several ringings at determined time intervals.

The described ringing mechanism is further provided with a blocking system to stop the ringing after it has been released. This system comprises a lever 53 adapted to stop the hammer (not shown) and provided at one end of one of its arms with a stud 54 sliding in a slot 55 of wheel 39 and which when the alarm spring 41 starts to be wound again returns the stopping system into its startmg position.

I claim:

1. In a clock movement, the combination comprising an adjustable mechanical ringing mechanism, means for releasing the ringing mechanism to allow ringing, a motor spring, a gear train driven by said motor spring, hours and minutes indicating members driven by said motor spring through said gear train, an alarm spring operatively connected to said ringing mechanism to mechanically drive the ringing mechanism when the latter is released by said release means and a winding wheel operatively connected to said alarm spring for winding said alarm spring, said winding wheel being in meshing engagement with one of the gears of said train whereby the winding wheel is rotatable by said one gear to energize said alarm spring for actuating the ringing mechanism, the prime energy source for the alarm spring being provided by said motor spring acting through said gear train.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further including an alarm wheel driven by said alarm spring when the ringing mechanism is released by said release means, and an escapement wheel, said alarm wheel being driveably connected to said escapement wheel to drive the same, said escapement wheel being driveably connected to said ringing mechanism for actuating the same.

3. A combination defined in claim 1 wherein said winding wheel has teeth on its periphery, said one gear of the gear train has teeth on a portion of its periphery engaging the teeth on said winding wheel to drive the winding wheel in one direction against the force of the alarm spring, said one gear of the gear train having a nontoothed portion on its periphery for releasing said winding wheel periodically to cause rotation of the winding wheel in a direction opposite to said first direction under the force of the alarm spring.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 further including a transmission wheel included in said gear train, a rotatable cam adapted to be adjusted externally of the movement, said transmission wheel, said one gear and said cam being coaxially arranged with respect to each other, a unidirectional coupling between said transmission wheel and said one gear, a friction coupling between said one gear and said cam, and stop means limiting the relative rotation between said cam and said one gear.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 further including a movable dial disc visible externally of the movement and coupled to said transmission wheel.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 further including an indicating member rotatively connected to said one gear.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 further includ ing a friction coupling between said dial disc and said transmission wheel, said dial disc being made of one piece with peripheral teeth, and said hours and minutes indicating members being dn'vingly connected to the teeth on said dial disc.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 355,097 7/1961 Switzerland.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. G. F. BAKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CLOCK MOVEMENT, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING AN ADJUSTABLE MECHANICAL RINGING MECHANISM, MEANS FOR RELEASING THE RINGING MECHANISM TO ALLOW RINGING, A MOTOR SPRING, A GEAR TRAIN DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR SPRING, HOURS AND MINUTES INDICATING MEMBERS DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR SPRING THROUGH SAID GEAR TRAIN, AN ALARM SPRING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RINGING MECHANISM TO MECHANICALLY DRIVE THE RINGING MECHANISM WHEN THE LATTER IS RELEASED BY SAID RELEASE MEANS AND A WINDING WHEEL OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ALARM SPRING FOR WINDING SAID ALARM SPRING, SAID WINDING WHEEL BEING IN MESHING ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE OF THE GEARS OF SAID TRAIN WHEREBY THE WINDING WHEEL IS ROTATABLE BY SAID ONE GEAR TO ENERGIZE SAID ALARM SPRING FOR ACTUATING THE RINGING MECHANISM, THE PRIME ENERGY SOURCE FOR THE ALARM SPRING BEING PROVIDED BY SAID MOTOR SPRING ACTING THROUGH SAID GEAR TRAIN. 